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This article is a direct street report from our correspondent and has not been edited by the 1st Responder newsroom.

By RON JEFFERS

Jersey City FD Chaplain Father James Pagnotta, left, offers blessing to the new Rescue 1 apparatus at Fire Headquarters on Nov. 7th.

By RON JEFFERS

Chief McGill, right, with Mayor Fulop, addressing the media on the features of the new Rescue 1.

By RON JEFFERS

Jersey City Rescue 1's 2018 Pierce Arrow XT.

By RON JEFFERS

Jersey City, NJ - Firefighters and public officials assembled at Jersey City Fire Headquarters, on Marin Boulevard, for a ceremony placing the Fire Department's new 2018 Pierce Arrow XT model rescue truck into service, on November 7th.

Rescue Co. 1 operates out of the firehouse at 582 Communipaw Avenue, in the center of the city, and responds to all sorts of emergency incidents, as well as fires. The elite crew are trained to handle may emergency situations, including motor vehicle entrapment incidents, elevator incidents, high angle and trench rescues, water rescues, confined space incidents, hazardous conditions, etc. Chief McGil said the rescue members are “most versatile and highly trained".

The new apparatus was built with specifications and input from the captains of Rescue 1. It replaced a well-worn 2002 Pierce model that will be placed into reserve status. Chief McGill called the rig a “tool box on wheels,” and added that the company answered about 2,400 calls last year.

The rig and crew received blessing from Fire Department Chaplain Father James Pagnotta. Father Pagnotta blessed all “police officers, firefighters and emergency medical personnel as they strive to keep us safe".

After the ceremony the crew, made up of four firefighters and a captain, placed the rig into service for citywide fire duty.